Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-11-11
A GIRL CRUS0E.
Thrilling Experience Of Mis-
siOnary'S Daughter.


catious of q well known eastern pub.
fishing house is book which promi-
ses to be replete with interest, enti.
tied "Misssionary Life and Labors
in the South Sea IslaLd3." 1t is the
production of Miss Hannah Durstan,
a young lady vino has spent her en-
tire life among the scenes which she
describes, and who is now actively
engaged in the work of promulga-
ting the gospel among the idol wor-
shippers and pagans of the far-away
isles of the ocean. Miss Durstan is
now sojourping in San Francisco
with friends She has left her field
of labor in the FIJI Islands to jour-
ney to New York and arrange for the
early publication of her work, in
which she takes much pride In her
island home Miss Durston is often
faniliarly called by her friends the
Young Crusoe Missionary" To
the Call reporter who visited her the
other evening at her cozy quarters at
6305 McA lister street, Miss Durston
related the sad story of how she came
to earn this title. She prefaced her
narration by short biographical
sketch of herself and description of
the missionary work Of her parents
The fair young authoress was born
in the Tientsin District, China, in
October, 1856 Her father was en-
gagged in Gospel labors there at the
time The climate did not agree
with Mrs. Durston, and while Han
nah was yet young the family re.
moved to the Sandwich Islands.
where Mr. Durston, in company with
a family named Johaunsen, carried
on mission work. The Durslons
veutually, in 1874. settled ia the is.
land of Vita Levu, one Of the FIJI
group up to this time" said Mss
DurstoD. 81 had been es happy as
any child possibly could be. l was
great favorite with the natives
wherever we went, and learned their
language thoroughly. Besides, ia.
lher and mother took great pains to
teach me everything, SO my educa.
ton was not neglected. | was now
old enough To realize the value of my
parents labors, and | began to take
great interest in religious matters.
La as able manner as | kuew how
| talked with the worshippers of
idols and tried to impress up IN them
the teachings of Chrislianty.
at was ON q Christmas day that |
remember 80 well my father telling
mother that he had decied to change
bis residence to tie Island of Karda
WI, aud there work in harmony with
the Wesleyan ministers, who are nu
merous Oh that island. We made
the change ere another month had
gone by. | did not like kardavu al.
though there is q pretty tay and
some fne island scenery. We lived
in hut made of cane, several miles
from where the colony was located.
at was very lonesome, and many
of the natives had ugly dispositions
They professed disgust and contempt
openly for the missionaries Moth
er's soft and kind ways seemed tc
have no effect upon them, and quite
frequently they stole things from US
Theft | will say though, is not 6
common practice anon the Fijians
One day father reprimanded q sub
chief called Ko-K Ko for stealing 6
jack knife, and in reply the chief
threatened to wreak vengeance or
us. Father had but little fear of him
doing anything, but two days after.
wards friendly native came and
told us that Ko-Ko and some of hi:
friends would pay US q visit thai
night and probably murder father
and mother and carry me into capti
vity, for Ko-Ko had an evil and Ii
ceniious disposition.
"Father became alarmed at this
AS the beach was near we resolved
to take few things and seek safety
On the ocean in our large bark canoe
until the uext day, as Ko.Ko and bis
men would surely he on the look out
From the door OF our hut to the san.
dy beach was only few steps
Here was our canoe, which father US.
ed in visiting adjacent islands. In
the bow was q capacious locker
where food and few other necessa
ries could be kept. Toward sunset
we FASTENED to the beach, placed our
things ia the locker, and pushed the
canoe into the water. IL would seem
that we Werc none too soon in get
ting away, for the canoe was hardly
hundred feet from the beach when
the treacherous Ko KO and six Others
came bounding 10 the waters, edge
brandishing their spears at Us in q
threatening fashion They had visi-
Ted tag sosse and found that we had
gone. Ko.Ko, win ca iqIpregAbloE
hurled spear at us, but it fell short
and dropped into the water. Father
breotbed iervent prayer over our
nerrow escape and hoisted sail up.
90 tho slender mast. Under the i'm.
petu5 of gentle breeze the canoe
soon left the shore far Behind.
"Mother and ] wrapped ourselves
up IN blanket9 at father'5 request and